Rowan Ayers
Encyclopedia
Rowan Ayers was a television producer
and poet
. He was best known as producer of BBC
's Line-Up and Late Night Line-Up
in the 1960s. He was the originator of BBCs influential late night rock music show Old Grey Whistle Test
and the long-running Points of View
. He was also responsible for the BBC's Open Door
.
Born in Essex
; Ayers began his career as a journalist on Fleet Street
as an editor for Radio Times
before moving to television. After several years with the BBC, in 1974 he moved to Australia where he joined the national Channel 9
network.
Rowan Ayers was the father of Kevin Ayers
, a founder member of Soft Machine
and a very keen Merlin Rocket sailor in the 1960s. Rowan Ayers launched Abbey Road, The Beatles last recorded album on his show Late Night Line Up to raptuous applause in late 1969.
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
and poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
. He was best known as producer of BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Line-Up and Late Night Line-Up
Late Night Line-Up
Late Night Line-Up was a pioneering British television discussion programme broadcast on BBC2 between 1964 and 1972. Late Night Line-Up returned for a special one-off edition on BBC Parliament in 2008.-Background:...
in the 1960s. He was the originator of BBCs influential late night rock music show Old Grey Whistle Test
Old Grey Whistle Test
The Old Grey Whistle Test was an influential BBC2 television music show that ran from 1971 to 1987. It took over the BBC2 late night slot from "Disco Two", which had been running since January 1970, while continuing to feature non-chart music. It was devised by BBC producer Rowan Ayers...
and the long-running Points of View
Points of View
Points of View is a long-running television show shown in the United Kingdom on BBC One, featuring the letters of viewers offering praise, criticism and purportedly witty observations on the television of recent weeks...
. He was also responsible for the BBC's Open Door
Open Door (BBC TV)
Open Door was a programme produced by the BBC's Community Programme Unit. It was first broadcast on April 2nd 1973.The programme gave people control of the airwaves and was a platform for the public to talk about its own issues and give their own views without editorial input.The programme was...
.
Born in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
; Ayers began his career as a journalist on Fleet Street
Fleet Street
Fleet Street is a street in central London, United Kingdom, named after the River Fleet, a stream that now flows underground. It was the home of the British press until the 1980s...
as an editor for Radio Times
Radio Times
Radio Times is a UK weekly television and radio programme listings magazine, owned by the BBC. It has been published since 1923 by BBC Magazines, which also provides an on-line listings service under the same title...
before moving to television. After several years with the BBC, in 1974 he moved to Australia where he joined the national Channel 9
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
network.
Rowan Ayers was the father of Kevin Ayers
Kevin Ayers
Kevin Ayers is an English singer-songwriter and was a major influential force in the English psychedelic movement...
, a founder member of Soft Machine
Soft Machine
Soft Machine were an English rock band from Canterbury, named after the book The Soft Machine by William S. Burroughs. They were one of the central bands in the Canterbury scene, and helped pioneer the progressive rock genre...
and a very keen Merlin Rocket sailor in the 1960s. Rowan Ayers launched Abbey Road, The Beatles last recorded album on his show Late Night Line Up to raptuous applause in late 1969.
Publications include
- Aspects in Adolescence. Being the moods of a young man London, A. H. Stockwell (1940) Poetry
- Australian Film, Television & Radio School Guide to Video Production (llen & Unwin (Jun 1990) - 272 Pages - ISBN 0-04-442165-6)
- Guide to Video Production Allen & Unwin (Feb 1992) - 280 Pages - ISBN 0-64216895-4)